Exam 1: Feline Behavior

Question 1

Cat genetic ancestors

Answer 1

African Wild Cat

Felis silvestris lybica

Question 2

Can cats interbreed with African wild cats

Answer 2

Yes, DNA nearly identical

Question 3

Are cats truly domesticated

Answer 3

No

More like tame

Question 4

Definition of domesticated

Answer 4

Genetic modification, breeding, care, and reproduction totally controlled by human and producing reproductively isolated population

Question 5

Define taming

Answer 5

Behavioral modification of wild born animal so that it accepts humans

Question 6

When do cats hunt

Answer 6

Dawn and dusk

Question 7

The predator stance

Answer 7

Ears forward

Low to ground, muscles tensed

May shift weight between back feet, readying to pounce

Question 8

How many meals do cats need

Answer 8

7-20 small prey meals throughout day

Question 9

Where do they get most of water from

Answer 9

prey

Question 10

How much water do they need

Answer 10

5-10 oz. per day

30-60 tsps. per day

Question 11

How many laps of water do they need

Answer 11

1 lap = 0.03 tsps.

Need 1000-2000 laps per day

Question 12

How many pieces of kibble equals 1 mouse

Answer 12

1 mouse = 30 kcal

about 10 pieces of kibble = 1 mouse

Question 13

How much water do they need to drink if on canned diet

Answer 13

Canned food has 70-80% water

Need to drink additional <1 oz. water per day

Question 14

How much water do they need to drink if on dry diet

Answer 14

Dry food has 7-10% water

Need to drink >7 oz. additional water per day
That = 1500 laps of water per day

Question 15

Cat eyesight

Answer 15

Large, prominent eyes

Vision in low light due to receptors

Sensitive to movement

Good depth and peripheral vision

Question 16

Cat auditory

Answer 16

Similar to bats

Can hear rodent communications

Large mobile ears

Can distinguish between individual human voices

Question 17

Cat taste

Answer 17

Cats do not have sugar receptors

Question 18

Whiskers

Answer 18

Guard hairs

Vibrissae

Question 19

Olfaction and communication

Answer 19

Scent glands of face, feet, anogenital, mammary

Vomeronasal organ - pheromones, flehmen response

Question 20

Pheromones detected by?

Answer 20

Vomeronasal (Jacobson’s) organ

Question 21

Vomeronasal organ

Answer 21

Humans one of only mammals without one

Special receiver organ involved in pheromone reception

Question 22

Where do pheromones achieve their effect

Answer 22

Amygdala

Question 23

Will cats fight or flight

Answer 23

Cats will choose flight

Better at escape than defense

Question 24

Genetics and temperment

Answer 24

Coat color correlation with aggression

Bold father has bold kittens

Friendly father has friendly kittens who are quicker to approach, touch, and rub humans

Question 25

Sensitive period in socilization

Answer 25

Weeks 2-8

Question 26

Can kittens be removed from mom before 6 weeks old

Answer 26

NO

Kittens will be suspicious and aggressive

Question 27

Normal cat behaviors

Answer 27

Sleeping (70% of time)
Stretching
Grooming
Exploration
Physical and mental exercise
Play
Scratch
Eating
Litterbox behaviors
Social animals
Good at hiding pain, illness, etc.